Cabin accommodations near Oriskany, Virginia sit within the Blue Ridge Mountains at elevations between 1,200-3,000 feet, creating distinct seasonal camping experiences. Temperatures can range from below freezing in winter to high 80s during summer months. Many cabin sites feature terraced designs that utilize the natural topography of the mountainous terrain.
What to do
Hiking Sharp Top and Flat Top mountains: Visitors at Peaks Of Otter Campground have access to significant mountain trails. "Definitely check out sharp top and flat top hikes. Both were beautiful, but slightly difficult so just be prepared. Also bring bug spray because the flies were terrible at the top," advises one camper.
Fishing Jennings Creek: Middle Creek Campground provides direct creek access. "Our campsite was nice, fairly private and backed up to a creek," notes a visitor. Many sites throughout the region offer creek fishing opportunities with the creek regularly stocked with trout during season.
Mountain biking trails: The rolling hills provide excellent mountain biking terrain. "We did a decent amount of biking here, the main road is nice for road biking, we rode out about 15 miles and back, saw a black bear. Beautiful country roads. And the trails are great for mountain biking. Bring your legs, lots of climbing!" shares a Douthat State Park visitor.
Swimming in natural waterways: Natural swimming spots offer alternatives to campground pools. "Staff were kind and knowledgeable. A stream runs beside the campground and the lake, though small, is nice to paddle around in a kayak," explains a Douthat visitor about water recreation options.
What campers like
Private bathroom facilities: Greenbrier State Forest cabins receive high marks for their bathroom amenities. A camper observed, "The very large bathroom had amazing white towels all folded and hung over towel bars like a nice hotel." Many campers appreciate the higher-end bathroom facilities at established cabins.
Natural water features: Campers consistently highlight access to natural water. At Middle Creek, a reviewer mentioned, "We liked getting the sites which are right next to the creek because the kids will play in the water all day." Creek-side sites are especially popular for families with children.
Spacious sites: Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing provides larger than average sites. "Awesome large spaces. Camped with 8 people/2 tents and had room for more if needed. Secluded enough but a lot to do," notes one visitor, highlighting the advantage of having extra space for larger groups.
Live entertainment: Several campgrounds offer evening entertainment. One visitor to Wilderness Adventure shared, "It was Saturday night with a bluegrass band, friendly families with kids, good food and drinks; totally our jam." Weekend entertainment provides added value for weekend cabin stays.
What you should know
Seasonal operation limitations: Many facilities operate on limited schedules. "This campground is open year round and is right off the highway," notes a Natural Bridge KOA reviewer, highlighting an exception to the typical seasonal closures from November through March that affect many regional campgrounds.
Tiered site designs: The mountainous terrain creates unique site layouts. "The whole campground is kind of 'carved' out of the mountain, and is therefore quite terraced in appearance, so a lot of sites had a similar setup to ours (as in, a lower pull-through space for trailer and TV plus an upper 'walk-up' area)," explains a visitor to Peaks of Otter Campground.
Shower availability: Bathing facilities vary significantly between locations. "Bath house was decent. On the ladies' side, there were three flush toilets, two sinks with cold water only, and no soap," notes one camper at Peaks of Otter, while other campgrounds offer private shower rooms.
Water pressure variations: Utility quality can differ even within the same campground. At Lynchburg / Blue Ridge Parkway KOA, "My water pressure was good but talking to other campers, the farther away you get from the front of the park the worse the water pressure gets," according to a recent visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Explore multiple water features: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Natural Bridge offers diverse water play options. "We partook in all we could and enjoyed the swimming hole, pool, splash pad, jumping pillow and arcade," shared one visitor. Multiple water features help keep children entertained throughout longer stays.
Pack for variable weather: Mountain elevations create unpredictable conditions. "The setting was heavily wooded, so the shade combined with the higher elevation made for a very cool, pleasant retreat from the July heat," notes a camper at Peaks of Otter, highlighting how tree cover and elevation affect comfort.
Consider tent platforms: Some campgrounds provide raised platforms. "It stormed our first night, and the raised gravel tent platforms prevented us from flooding," explained a camper at Lynchburg / Blue Ridge Parkway KOA, pointing out a practical feature for families with young children.
Look for structured activities: Some campgrounds offer organized entertainment. "They had activities every day for the kids. As well as lots of unstructured activities. For example, they had a foosball table and a jumping pad. But they also had a 'color a sack' thing where the kids got a KOA canvas tote and access to fabric markers," shares a visitor about the family programming at Lynchburg / Blue Ridge Parkway KOA.
Tips from RVers
Check tunnel clearance: Access to some campgrounds requires navigating tight spaces. "Shortly after turning onto Harts Run Rd there is a small, narrow one-way-only tunnel that you must go through to enter the State Forest. There is a misleading sign indicating that the tunnel is only 9'2" tall, which is wrong," warns a Greenbrier State Forest visitor, noting the actual clearance is 15'4".
Understand campground sections: Douthat State Park Campground has distinct areas with different characteristics. "Douthat is really four separate campgrounds. Three of them are located near the lake. Whispering Pines is a few miles away along the entry road and has a different character. It's a very flat and wide-open campground perfect for big RVs with much larger sites."
Confirm site length and slope: Site characteristics matter for larger vehicles. "We had reserved a pull through but were just short in length and had to disconnect the tow vehicle for the night. They had longer sites so if this is important I would discuss when making reservation," advises a visitor to Lynchburg / Blue Ridge Parkway KOA.
Check for seasonal staffing: Off-season visits may find limited services. "We called and called to inquire about some of our reservation needs, could rarely reach anyone. Rarely staffed in the shoulder season of the fall," reports a Middle Creek visitor, suggesting calling well ahead during non-peak times.
